Currently Martyn Jacques, Adrian Stout, Adrian Huge (Past member Phil Butcher)
Their surreal style has been described as dark, darkly humorous, strangely humorous, Brechtian, and gypsy cabaret. They are also notorious for singing controversial songs involving bestiality, prostitution and blasphemy.
The Tiger Lillies were originally buskers, playing songs about the criminals, pimps and whores of Soho, London, England. Over time, the band became involved in several theatrical productions around the world, including the critically acclaimed Shockheaded Peter. Known for their intense, outlandish, and dark performances, they have garnered both controversy and critical acclaim.
Also "The Tiger Lillies", "The Tigerlilies" and "The Tigerlillies" may refer to Indie rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio that formed in 1989.
Bio:
Cincinnati's power pop stalwarts the Tigerlillies formed in 1989 and set out to fuse glam rock, roots rock, and post-punk into an aesthetic they called "More Pop than Jesus." Led by vocalist/guitarist Pat Hennessy, the band also included former members of the Chrome Cranks, the Candy Snatchers, and G.G. Allin & the Murder Junkies before settling on the lineup of Hennessy, guitarist/vocalist William Weber, bassist Brian Driscoll, and drummer/vocalist Steve Hennessy.
Discography:
Deep (1992)
Space Age Love Songs (1997)
Ceci N'est Ces Pop (2003)
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Cape of Good Hope
The Tiger Lillies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
on this summer's day
The Cape of Good Hope
blows our lives away
The sea roars
the lightning flash
Our timbers are all smashed
With one last breath
over us it does gush
And we're going under the waves
Gasp and gag to our graves
But now as my breathing does cease
I feel only peace
And the mermaids carry me
I feel only free
Now my soul floats on the sea
And the mermaids play with me
All is calm in the waves
King Neptune does us save
So each sailor in the sea
If you hear remember me
When the storm does not cease
Your fate it will be peace
Only peace
The song "Cape of Good Hope" by The Tiger Lillies is a sorrowful ballad about a shipwreck off the coast of South Africa. The first stanza suggests that the ship is being rocked by violent winds and is in imminent danger of sinking. The mention of "summer's day" in contrast to the harshness of the wind signifies the unpredictability and cruelty of nature. The second stanza paints a picture of a stormy sea with roaring waves and thundering lightning, which destroys the ship's timbers. The final moments of the sailors on board are captured vividly as they take their last breaths and drown under the waves. However, the song's final verse introduces a note of hope and consolation. The singer's soul is carried by mermaids and he feels peaceful and free. He delivers a message of remembrance to other sailors, emphasizing that death at sea can bring peace and that there is no need to despair in times of distress.
The lyrics of "Cape of Good Hope" are deeply emotive, and the imagery thematically centers on the treacherous sea, impending doom, and eventual peace. The song is a tribute to all sailors who have lost their lives at sea; it highlights their resilience in the face of extreme adversity and their courage to confront fate, no matter how bleak. The lyrics' simplicity and shortness make "Cape of Good Hope" an unforgettable song that captures the essential human experience, emphasizing survival, death, and comfort.
Line by Line Meaning
The wind is howling
The wind is gusting strong
on this summer's day
The season is summer, yet the wind is strong
The Cape of Good Hope
The location is the Cape of Good Hope
blows our lives away
The strong wind is threatening their lives
The sea roars
The sound of the sea is like a roar
the lightning flash
There is a frequent occurrence of lightning
Our timbers are all smashed
The wood of their ship is broken and damaged
The waters coming for us
The water is quickly approaching the ship
With one last breath
They have the feeling that it's their last breath
over us it does gush
The water is surging and taking over the ship
And we're going under the waves
They are sinking and going under the water
Gasp and gag to our graves
They are struggling to breathe as they sink to their death
But now as my breathing does cease
Their breathing has stopped as they accept their fate
I feel only peace
They have found inner peace knowing their death is imminent
And the mermaids carry me
They imagine themselves being carried by mermaids
I feel only free
They feel liberated from their physical body
Now my soul floats on the sea
They imagine their soul drifting on the water
And the mermaids play with me
They imagine mermaids interacting with their soul
All is calm in the waves
The water is peaceful and still
King Neptune does us save
They imagine Neptune, the god of the sea, saving their soul
So each sailor in the sea
They address all sailors in the same situation
If you hear remember me
They ask others to remember them if they hear their story
When the storm does not cease
They speak to those who may face a similar fate in the future
Your fate it will be peace
If they accept their fate, they believe they'll find peace
Only peace
Their final message is about finding peace in death
Contributed by Adam N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
twistedkarm
amazing lyrics from the content to the pattern of the rhymes is ust amazing...
Liudmila H
Lovely.
Guram Labartkava
Unique
Merik420
is that the old man from family guy singing?
grumbleyguts
Merik420 it’s the ‘criminal castrati’......Martin Jaques
Masoud Hosseinpour
فدات علی